Stakeholder Perspectives on Sustaining Post-Project Peatland Restoration Outcomes: A Case Study in Jambi Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Peatland ecosystems are vital for Indonesia’s climate change mitigation objectives but face significant degradation risks. Indonesia, as the location of the world’s second-largest tropical peatlands, has prioritised peatland restoration for nearly a decade. Restoration initiatives involve a diverse array of stakeholders—including government agencies, donor organisations, the private sector, NGOs, academics, and local communities—with substantial resources allocated to seven key provinces, including Jambi. However, most restoration efforts are limited to pilot projects rather than sustainable long-term interventions. Lessons learned from previous initiatives emphasise the necessity of enhancing stakeholders’ understanding of peatland restoration and aligning restoration efforts with their strategic interests to foster long-term commitment by stakeholders. This research aimed to elicit stakeholders' perspectives on the value of peatlands, their goals after the completion of restoration projects, and actions they believed necessary to achieve them. It takes a project sponsored by the Government of the Republic of Korea as an Official Development Assistance activity, Restoration of Burnt Peatland in Jambi, as a case study. Fieldwork was conducted from June to July 2024, employing semi-structured interviews with purposively sampled participants (n= 22), alongside field and participant observations to gain insights into project implementation and stakeholder interactions. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to assist interpretation of the data. Previous studies have highlighted the significance of collaboration in Indonesian peatland restoration. However, existing reports often lack comprehensive information on the post-project experiences of these restoration efforts. The analysis reveals a deficiency in adaptive long-term planning for sustainable restoration, despite participants’ hopes for ongoing activities. Additionally, there is a varied understanding of the ‘3R’ (rewetting, revegetation, and revitalisation of local communities’ livelihoods) approach, with communities being more familiar with revitalisation activities. This research underscores the complexity of issues in restoring peatland ecosystems for climate change mitigation while also maintaining their productive use. Understanding stakeholder perspectives is crucial for effective collaboration in landscape-based ecosystem management, ensuring local communities are central to development projects. Otherwise, outcomes may be suboptimal, and funding may be inadequate to foster sustainable practices. While this study highlights the importance of stakeholder perceptions in sustaining peatland restoration efforts in Jambi, it also notes the limited representation of interviewees and the absence of private sector perspectives. Future research should engage all stakeholder categories involved in the restoration agenda and apply a Social-Ecological Systems (SES) framework to capture the intricate dynamics of social and ecological components. Additionally, improving peatland restoration governance could benefit from the Collaborative Environmental Governance (CEG) framework to navigate the complexities and competing interests inherent in Indonesia's peatland ecosystems.